Joseph becker



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH BECKER, OF NEY VYORK, N. Y.

PIANOFORTE-ACTION.

Speccaton of Letters Patent No. 14,998, dated June 3, 1856.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH BECKER, of the city of New York, county of New York, State of New York, and a citizen of the United States, have invented a new and Improved Mode of Constructing Pianoforte- Actions; and I do hereby declare that the following is a. full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

First, a bar of iron M2, Figure 1, and Fig. 4;, Plate 2 rests on clamps of iron or metal M3, Fig. On these are supported the key frame Qt, Fig. G, Plate 3, and Fig. e, Plate 2. This key frame is square, circular, octagon, elliptical, or any other desired form. Across the top of the cylinder, or frame work of the main body of the piano, a plank or piece of metal L2, (Fig. 1, Plate 1,) in the center of which is a female screw L3 (Fig. 4C, Plate 2,) and supports an ornamental top Mt (Fig. 4, Plate 2) which can be raised cr lowered at pleasure.

The action frame N (Plate Q, Fig. corresponds in shape to the piano, it is a frame work consisting of a lever rim N or damper rail, and an upper rim or hammer board y, connected to the lower rim N by the rods or frame O, and rods 0 0 0 0,' to the action frame is attached the action rail board B2, (Plate 2, Fig. The action frame N (Plate 2, Fig. is cut in two pieces and connected by a spring N2. The whole of the action frame N is connected to the piano body A, by hooks, a Fig. 1, Plate 1.

The hammer rail Y is covered with baiZe or cloth or other substance to prevent injury to the keys when they fall back as well as to prevent their giving any sound from the wocd-the action frame il completely encircles the piano body. N is also called the damper rail. On the top of the rods O is a small cap of brass or other metal upon which rests the damper rail N (Fig. 5 Plate 2) made to correspond with the shape of the piano and attached to it by spiral springs T, (Plate 3 Fig. 6). On

the damper rail N there is a block of wood S for the purpose of receiving the head of the rod V which forces out the damper N by the action of a treadle IV, (Plate 1, Fig. 1.)

Plate 3, is a plan of the piano, the key frame Of and contains the keys or levers G2. The finger or lever keys F2 are fastened to the key frame by pivots F3 passing over the keys or levers G2 fastened to the side of the key frame by slits or jaws G2 on the key frame. rIhe keys G2 cross the linger keys F2 at any angle desired; through the keys o-r levers G2 at a proper point are regulating screws H2; on the lower end is a leather cap resting on the finger levers F2; on the end of these keys or levers is a jaw which plays on a pin J2. In the lower end of the connecting rods Z, which are hollow, are titted small wooden jaws J2, and into the jaw J3 plays a lever K2, fastened through the jaws J2' attached to the rim n on the lower part of lever.

X2 is a semi-circular wooden projection resting on the leather covering H2' (Plate 1, Fig. On the upper end of the hollow metallic rod Z is also a similar jaw fitted in the end rod Z, with a jaw in it similar to the jaws J2 and connects the rod Z with the jack X. This jack rests against the hammer block X2. On the back of the hammer block X2, (Fig. 3, Plate 1,) there is a small hammer X2, called a hammer jack which rests on a strap Xt, attached to a rod or wire At. X5 is another hammer jack, and Bt' is the lever jack attached to the B2, the jack rail, (Fig. 3, Plate 1). Attached to X2 is the hammer X6.

The wire A5 is called the damper lifter, A@ the damper lever attached to A5, and U one of the dampers.

Operation: The linger levers G2 raise the cross levers F2; these raise or act on K2, which raise the jack Bt; this operates on both the damper lifter A5 and the jack X, which acts on the hammer block K2, and causes the hammer X6 to strike the strings, and the damper i? to preventI the vibration of sound, the lever wire t to which the strap Xt is connected draws back the hammer XG by the block X2 ready to act when required.

What I claim and desire to Secure by Letdouble broken arrangements as described in ters Patent of the United States, is and set forth in the accompanying specical0 The doable broken action as shown in tions. Plate l, Fig. 3, namely, as follows Gr, and JOSEPH BECKER.,

5 G3, H2, F2, J2, K2, J3, J3, N, Z Z, B4, A4, X

B3, Q, X4, X5, l 3, X2, the said part or lVitnesses: parts being combined and acting together HENRY WV. CLARK, completing the Whole arrangement of the GERARDUS CLARK. 

